Outlet box and fixture support adapter



Nov. 24, 1959 w. H. FUSS 2,914,601

OUTLET BOX AND FIXTURE SUPPORT ADAPTER Filed May 18, 1956 2 Sheets-Shut 1 INVEN TOR. W/L L l/IM P05 5,

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States Patent 2,914,601 oUT ET Box AND FIXTURE SUPPORT ADAPTER William H. Fuss,- Stone Mountain, Ga. Application May 18, 1956, Serial No. 585,725 2 Claims. 01. 174-63) This invention relates generally to hangers for electrical fixtures and the like, and is more particularly concerned'with an adapter for hanging electrical outlet or conduit boxes,

Most building specifications in conformance with building codes require that the means for supporting relatively heavy lighting fixtures, such as fluorescent fixtures, and the like, shall be suspended from the concrete slab or structural steel of a roof or ceiling, and the weight of the fixture shall not be hung directly from the ceiling, per se. Oftentimes, the electrical fixtures directly hung from the outlet or conduit-box not only are contrary to the building codes and local requirements, but inherently dangerous in the event the ceiling from which the fixture is hung subsequently fails.

A primary object of invention is to provide a novel adapter for suspending electrical fixtures, said adapter including means whereby a plurality of different connecting devices depending from a ceiling or roof construction may be secured thereto, including means for securing an electrical connecting box thereon, and further including means whereby a coupling element, such asa rod or pipe reducer, may be secured in depending relationship from-the adapter for accommodating various fixtures in suspended relationship from a ceiling.

Another object of invention is conformance with that setforth is toprovide a novel adapter of the character involved which is readily and economically manufactured, easily used, and highly practical, safe, and acceptable for the purpose intended.

These, together with other objects and advantages, which will bccomesubsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying'drawings forming a part hereof, Wherein like: numerals refer to like partsthroughout, and in whichi- Figure l is-a side elevational View of an installed novel adapter, hung from a horizontal support pipe, showing in phantom lines a fragmentary portion of an electrical connection box secured on the adapter;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the installed novel adapter, lookingfrom the side of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

V Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the installed novel adapter of Figure 1;

I Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 3; I

Figure 6 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3, showing the novel adapter installed on the lower angles of the lower chord of a bar joist, for example.

Figure '7 is a perspective view of the novel adapter :of the invention looking at the bottom thereof;

Figure 8 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3, showing the-novel-adapter installed on a stud secured in depending vertical relationship from a concrete slab;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing a hanger rod mounted in an anchor in a concrete slab, showing the manner in which the adapter may be vertically adjusted;

Figure 10 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3, showing the installation of the novel adapter on an eye bolt suspended from a support cable;

Figure 11 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3, showing the manner in which the novel adapter may be supported from a coach screw secured in wooden decking; and

Figure 12 is another perspective view of the novel adapter, looking at the top thereof.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the novel adapter as seen in Figures 7 and 12 is indicated generally at 10 and includes a cylindrical body member 12, the member having extending therethrough from one end to the other end an internally threaded bore or bore portion 14 whose purpose will become apparent from the following description. A flange or collar 16 extends externally about the portion of the body member 12 adjacent one end, the collar having a pair of flat faces 42 and 19 with the one face 42 flushwith said one end of the body member and the other face 19 adjacent to and spaced from the said one end of the body member 12. The body member 12 has a first threaded outer peripheral portion 18 which extends from the other face 19 of the collar 16 and terminates at a point spaced from the other end of the body member 12 and of a diameter less than that of the collar 16, and also, a second threaded outer peripheral portion 20 which extends from the terminating point aforementioned to the other end of the body member 12 and is of a diameter smaller than that of the portion 18. A threaded nut 54 is in threaded engagement with the threaded portion 18, the threaded portion 20 being adapted for connection to a coupling element or reducer, as desired, for a particular installation.

Considering Figures 1 through 5, for example, a horizontally disposed support pipe is indicated at 22, said pipe having secured thereon a clip assembly 24 which includes an apertured bight portion 26 terminating in a pair of oppositely disposed leg portions 28 and 30incorporating in an intermediate portion thereof oppositely disposed arcuate portions 32 and 34, respectively, continuing in upper apertured end portions 36 and 38, respectively, which extend above the support pipe 22 and have extending therethrough a suitable securing nut and bolt assembly, indicated generally at 40.

The adapter 10, as clearly seen in Figure 12, has extending diametrically across the face 42 of the collar 16 a grooved portion 44 for accommodating therein the lower bight portion 26 of the clip assembly 24. The bight portion 26 has extending therethrough a suitable retaining screw element 46, the threaded body portion 48 of which, see Figure 3, being received within the threaded bore portion 14 of the adapter. As seen in Figures 1 and 4, for example, the body member 12 of the adapter may have extending diametrically thereacross at the end opposite the flange or collar 16, a kerf 50 for accommodating therein the blade of a screwdriver, facilitating the installation of the adapter.

The top of an electrical connection box is indicated at 52, said box being indicated generally at B, and including in the top, a conventional knock-out slug portion for accommodating therethrough the threaded portion 18 of the adapter wherein the collar 16 will be in juxtaposition on the top 52 of the connection box. The lock nut 54 is threadingly disposed on the threaded portion 18 of the adapter for clampingly engaging an under surface portion of the outlet box between said lock nut and the collar 16 previously mentioned. The reduced threaded portion 20 of the adapter has a coupling means 53 in threaded engagement therewith, from which means 53 an electrical fixture may be hung therefrom, Thus, the electrical fixture is hung directly from the adapter 10, and is not hung from the connection box B which would be contrary to safety regulations and building codes which have generally been adopted.

Considering Figure 6, a fragmentary portion of a bar joist is constituted by the lower angles of the chord of the bar joist which are indicated at 56 and 58 which incorporate a space 64) therebetween, said space 60 having extending therethrough a suitable connecting bolt 62, said bolt extending through a washer element 64 overlying the upper edges of the angles 56 and 58, the lower threaded portion 66 of said bolt being received in the threaded bore portion 14 of the adapter. In all other respects the adapter is utilized in the same manner previously described relative to Figures 1 through 5, wherein the top portion 52 of the outlet box B is gripped between the lock nut 54 and the flange or collar portion 16 of the adapter.

As seen in Figure 8, a fragmentary portion of a concrete slab is indicated at C, said concrete slab having driven therein a projectile type stud 68 which includes a lower threaded portion 70 received within the threaded bore portion 14 of the novel adapter. The connection box B has the top portion 52 thereof gripped between the lock nut 54 of the adapter and the collar 16 thereof.

As seen in Figure 9, a fragmentary portion of a concrete slab is again indicated at C, said slab having disposed therein in downwardly opening relationship, a suitable anchor sleeve '72 of lead, or any other suitable material, which receives therein the threaded end 74 of a hanger rod 76. The hanger rod 76 is threaded at its lower end 78 which is threadingly received within the threaded bore portion 14 of the adapter. The threaded portion 78 of the rod 76 has disposed thereon a lock nut 89 which engages the upper end 82 of the novel adapter. When the adapter of Figure 9 is utilized with a lock nut 80, the diametrical slot or notch portion 44 is eliminated and the upper end portion of the adapter is substantially smooth. Thus, after the adapter is used, as in Figure 9, and adjusted to a predetermined height by rotating the same on the threaded portion 78 of the hanger rod 76,

the nut 81 is urged into relationship with the upper end portion 82 of the adapter, thus looking it in a substantially fixed position. The threaded portion 18 of the adapter accommodates thereon the lock nut 54 for grippringly engaging the top 52 of the outlet box.

Considering Figure 10, a support cable is indicated I v desired, a suitable coupling may be secured on the lower threaded end 20 of the adapter for accommodating thereon predetermined lengths of nipples, also for the accommodation of various light fixtures in a given installation. In this regard, suitable connecting brackets or support brackets may include threaded aperture portions therethrough for accommodation on the threaded portion 20 of the novel adapter for the purpose of supporting fluorescent light fixture housings, for example.

Considering Figure 11, a fragmentary portion of wooden decking is indicated at 90, said decking accommodating therein the threaded end portion 92 of a coach screw 94, said coach screw 94 having a lower threaded end portion 96 accommodated in the threaded bore portion 14 of the adapter previously described.

Thus, there has been disclosed a novel adapter for electrical connection boxes which permits the connec- 4 tion box to be supported on the adapter independently of the lighting fixture which also will be hung from the adapter. The various sizes of the threaded bore portion 14 and outer peripheral threaded portions 18 and 2d of the adapter will be so proportioned so as to accommodate therein conventionally sized pipe couplings or threaded rods conventionally found in the electrical fixtures now being used.

Although a novel adapter has been disclosed with a diametrical slot portion 44 for accommodating therein the bight portion 26 of the clip assembly 24, for example, and also discloses a slot portion 50 for accommodating a screwdriver blade therein, it is to be understood that the adapter is readily usable without the aforementioned structure and accordingly, the novel adapter will function to afford the novel results without the incorporation of such features.

The various positional and directional terms lower, upper, inner, etc., are utilized herein only to have relative connotation to aid in describing the device and it is not intended to require any particular orientation with respect to any external elements.

The foregoing is considered illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all such modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An adapter for hanging an electrical connection box from an overhead support comprising a cylindrical body member having a flat face at one end and having extending therethrough from one end to the other end an internally threaded bore for threaded engagement therein of a portion of a threaded hanger rod, a flange extending externally about the portion of said body member adjacent one end, said body having a first threaded outer peripheral portion extending from said flange and terminating at a point spaced from the other end of said body and of a diameter less than that of said flange and a second threaded outer-peripheralportion extending from said terminating point to the other end of said body and of a diameter smaller than that of said first portion, the body member first portion being adapted for threaded engagement with a threaded nut or threaded coupling, and said body member second portion being adapted for threaded engagement with a threaded coupling thereto.

2. The combination with an overhead support and an electrical connection box provided with an opening in the top, of an adapter comprising a cylindrical body member having a flat face at one end and having extending therethrough from one end to the other end an internally threaded bore, a flange extending externally about the portion of said body member adjacent one end, said body having a first threaded outer peripheral portion extending from said flange and terminating at a point spaced from the other end of said body and of a diameter less than that of said flange and a second threaded outer peripheral portion extending from said terminating point to the other end of said body and of a diameter smaller than that of said first portion, thev said second and first portions of said body member being inserted in the order named through said opening with the flange engaging the adjacent bounding wall of the box opening, a threaded nut in threaded engagement with said body member first portion and bearing againstthe adjacent bounding wall of said box opening, a threaded hanger means having one end extending into and in threaded engagement with the portion of'the threaded bore adjacent the flange and having the portion adjacent theother end secured to said overhead support, and a coupling 2,914,601 5 6 means in threaded engagement with said body member 1,777,291 Clayton Oct. 7, 1930 second portion. 1,894,586 Glatthar Jan. 17, 1933 2,446,736 Biller Aug. 10, 1948 References Cited in the file of this patent 2,632,620 Hurley ar, 4, 1953 UNTTED STATES PATENTS 5 2,699,315 Appleton Jan. 11, 1955 1,534,146 Thomas Apr. 21, 1925 

